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David and His Mighty Men · Bible in a Year with Jack Graham

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  Speaker 1: And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to
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  Speaker 1: the gutter and smiteth the Jebusites and the lame and
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  Speaker 1: the blind that are hated by David's soul, he shall
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  Speaker 1: be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, The blind and
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  Speaker 1: the lame shall not come into the house. 2 Samuel
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  Speaker 1: 5.8 Lord, because you are my king, like David's mighty men,
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  Speaker 1: I will pray that my bravery, devotion, and wit would
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  Speaker 1: mirror you. I declare that as I train for my
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  Speaker 1: future destiny, I will not waver in my training and dedication.
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  Speaker 1: Thank you for giving me special gifts and abilities that
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  Speaker 1: will allow me to conquer whatever I face. Like Shama,
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  Speaker 1: I will stand in the gap for those who can't
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  Speaker 1: fight for themselves. As you elevate my influence, I will
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  Speaker 1: care for the heart of your people like King David
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  Speaker 1: and his mighty men. In the same way, I will
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  Speaker 1: praise you for assembling a squad around me like the
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  Speaker 1: dream team. I thank you that each person you assign
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  Speaker 1: to my life are gifted with supernatural abilities and with
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  Speaker 1: even bigger hearts for you. I declare that loyalty and
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  Speaker 1: a warrior's heart will rule in the hearts of those
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  Speaker 1: you've surrounded around me. Today, I will lift up my
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  Speaker 1: voice and let out a war cry that declares, Because
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  Speaker 1: the God of the universe is for me, no one
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  Speaker 1: will overcome me. I am anointed and appointed to reign
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  Speaker 1: in life, and I gladly accept my position of power
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  Speaker 1: and influence. In Jesus' name, amen. Thanks for making prayer
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  Speaker 1: a priority in your life. To hear the Bible come
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  Speaker 1: to life, stay tuned for The Bible in a Year,
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  Speaker 1: brought to you by Bibleinayear.com.
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  Speaker 2: In our last story, we learned about David's alliance with
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  Speaker 2: Abner that was quickly thwarted by his general Joab. Joab
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  Speaker 2: murdered Abner as revenge for his brother's death. David did
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  Speaker 2: not honor Joab's actions, yet allowed God to be the
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  Speaker 2: one who judged him. Meanwhile, three men murdered King Ish-bosheth
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  Speaker 2: in order to please David. David was not pleased. and
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  Speaker 2: would not have the blood of a king on his hands.
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  Speaker 2: So he executed the men where they stood. Despite all
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  Speaker 2: the dysfunction, civil war, and heartache, David was finally crowned
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  Speaker 2: king over all Israel. He would usher in a new
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  Speaker 2: era of peace and restoration. Now we learn about David's
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  Speaker 2: mighty men. Their bravery, devotion, and wit mirrors that of
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  Speaker 2: their king, inspired by the book of 2 Samuel.
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  Speaker 3: I'm so glad you joined us on the Bible in
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  Speaker 3: a Year podcast today. But before we get to today's episode,
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  Speaker 3: I want you to know that I would absolutely love
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  Speaker 3: to send you my daily devotional that will give you
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  Speaker 3: fresh encouragement every single morning and day. From the moment
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  Speaker 3: we wake up to the moment our head finally hits
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  Speaker 3: the pillow, there are thousands of things demanding our attention.
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  Speaker 3: But it's in the midst of all this crush and
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  Speaker 3: hustle and bustle that you and I need peace and
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  Speaker 3: truth in God's Word. That's why I want to help
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  Speaker 3: you spend time each day growing in God's life-giving, life-changing
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  Speaker 3: Word by sending you my free daily email devotional, PowerPoint Today.
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  Speaker 3: So visit jackgram.org to sign up for your PowerPoint Today devotional.
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  Speaker 3: That's jackgram.org, jackgram.org. In our previous story, we saw how
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  Speaker 3: Abner walked away from Ish-bosheth to side with David, whom
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  Speaker 3: he knew was the rightful ruler for all of Israel.
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  Speaker 3: Their alliance was short-lived, however, as Joab took revenge on
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  Speaker 3: Abner for killing his brother and murdered Abner in cold blood.
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  Speaker 3: David chose to spare Joab's life, but sent him away
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  Speaker 3: and left it to God to deal with Joab's sin.
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  Speaker 3: We also learned that Ish-bosheth's men killed him in his sleep,
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  Speaker 3: and brought his head to David, hoping to be praised
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  Speaker 3: for their act in his behalf. Instead, David condemned them
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  Speaker 3: for raising their hand against Ish-bosheth and executed them on
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  Speaker 3: the spot, a sign that he wanted to come to
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  Speaker 3: power through reconciliation rather than violence. In the end, the
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  Speaker 3: rulers of Israel crowned David as king over all of Israel,
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  Speaker 3: and the kingdom was unified under one king. But David
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  Speaker 3: did not stand alone. God surrounded him with mighty men
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  Speaker 3: of valor, 30 men who emulated David's heart of mercy, bravery,
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  Speaker 3: and wisdom. And today, we'll hear the story of David's
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  Speaker 3: mighty men.
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  Speaker 2: The sun beat heavily against David's back as he trained.
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  Speaker 2: In the hot eastern sun, David swung his sword with
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  Speaker 2: ferocity and precision. His men trained beside him in the
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  Speaker 2: heat of the midday. Their training could mean the rise
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  Speaker 2: or fall of Israel. so they did not waver in
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  Speaker 2: their discipline. David's strength grew day by day, as did
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  Speaker 2: the strength of his men. His courage was greatly due
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  Speaker 2: to the men he surrounded himself with. Thirty warriors followed
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  Speaker 2: David on all of his travels. These were called his
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  Speaker 2: mighty men. Together, they protected the people of Israel. Three
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  Speaker 2: of the thirty governed Israel alongside David as his most
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  Speaker 2: trusted warriors and counselors. There was Jasabim, who was the
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  Speaker 2: captain of the mighty men. Jasobim was relentless in battle,
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  Speaker 2: and once stood his ground against eight hundred men in
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  Speaker 2: battle with a single spear. His strength was unparalleled, and
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  Speaker 2: his tactful mind proved as an asset to David. Then
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  Speaker 2: there was Eleazar. When a Philistine horde had descended upon
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  Speaker 2: David and the armies of Israel, all of the men
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  Speaker 2: fled except David and Eleazar. Eliezer fought alongside David until
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  Speaker 2: his hand clung to his sword from cramping. He was
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  Speaker 2: the closest to David and undyingly loyal. Last of the
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  Speaker 2: three was Shammah. Shammah was a man of principle and bravery.
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  Speaker 2: One day the Philistines were pursuing the people of Israel
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  Speaker 2: and every man fled. However, Shammah stood his ground at
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  Speaker 2: a small bean patch in order to protect the farmers there.
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  Speaker 2: He fought with the heart of a guardian and proved
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  Speaker 2: to David he was willing to lay his life down
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  Speaker 2: for the sake of the small and helpless. David's mighty
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  Speaker 2: men were a representation of David's leadership. He cared for
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  Speaker 2: them and trained them in the ways of battle and politics.
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  Speaker 2: In return, the mighty men fought for David and the
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  Speaker 2: people of Israel. Not only did they fight, but they
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  Speaker 2: responded to the needs of the people and helped care
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  Speaker 2: for them. David's heart was enriched by their friendship, and
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  Speaker 2: they were empowered by his guidance. One evening, David and
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  Speaker 2: his men were camped in the cave of Adullam. There
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  Speaker 2: they waited to ambush the Philistines who had taken over
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  Speaker 2: the city of Bethlehem. The men waited for days, needing
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  Speaker 2: the perfect moment to strike down the Philistines. They became
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  Speaker 2: weary and thirsty, for their supplies had begun to wear thin.
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  Speaker 2: In the cool of the night, David leaned back with
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  Speaker 2: his back against the cave walls, staring at the fire.
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  Speaker 2: There he talked to his men about Bethlehem, telling stories
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  Speaker 2: of the lions that would come out and take his sheep.
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  Speaker 2: David closed his eyes. A single tear fell from his eye. Ah,
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  Speaker 2: what I wouldn't give to take a drink from the
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  Speaker 2: well of Bethlehem again, David said with a slight frown.
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  Speaker 2: He missed his home and was grieved that it had
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  Speaker 2: been overrun by Philistines. As David said this, he drifted
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  Speaker 2: off into sleep. As David was sleeping, three of his
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  Speaker 2: men gathered their weapons and fled the cave. They laid
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  Speaker 2: low and near the mountainside as they made their way
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  Speaker 2: into Bethlehem. The small city was crawling with Philistines. One
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  Speaker 2: false step and they would be killed in an instant.
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  Speaker 2: Drunken laughter could be heard in the streets as the
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  Speaker 2: three men crawled their way into the city. They made
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  Speaker 2: their way to the gate where the well of Bethlehem was.
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  Speaker 2: Philistine tents surrounded the area, and soldiers were near the
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  Speaker 2: gate keeping watch. With the light touch of a cat,
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  Speaker 2: one of the men crouched his way to the well
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  Speaker 2: and drew some water into his canteen. The two other
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  Speaker 2: men watched from a few yards away. Slowly, he filled
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  Speaker 2: the canteen and began to make his way back on
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  Speaker 2: all fours. As he was crawling, a guard spotted him
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  Speaker 2: from above the gate.
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  Speaker 1: Israelites!
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  Speaker 2: The soldier yelled, and immediately a swarm of Philistines rushed him.
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  Speaker 2: The two other mighty men drew their swords and burst
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  Speaker 2: through the Philistine soldiers. Together the men ran through the
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  Speaker 2: alleys of Bethlehem, fighting Philistines along the way. There was
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  Speaker 2: no other way out but to fight through the gate.
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  Speaker 2: So the three of them swung their swords with complete grace,
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  Speaker 2: just as David had taught them. Dozens of Philistines fell
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  Speaker 2: that night, and the three men were able to escape
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  Speaker 2: with their lives back.
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  Speaker 1: To the caves.
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  Speaker 2: Dawn was approaching, and the men returned with exhausted smiles
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  Speaker 2: on their faces. The morning sun rays peeked through the
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  Speaker 2: cave entrance. The men slapped one another's backs and laughed
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  Speaker 2: as they entered the cave. The men bowed before David
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  Speaker 2: and presented him with the canteen filled with water from Bethlehem.
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  Speaker 2: David held the canteen, dumbfounded that the men had gone
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  Speaker 2: to such great lengths to get him the water. David
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  Speaker 2: opened the canteen slowly. He looked at the men with
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  Speaker 2: a smile. David stood up and walked to the entrance
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  Speaker 2: of the cave and poured the water out before the
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  Speaker 2: Lord and said, These men risked their lives for this water.
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  Speaker 2: It is not mine to drink. This act of courage
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  Speaker 2: for the sake of David embodied who the mighty men were.
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  Speaker 2: They were great warriors devoted to David. Together they trained
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  Speaker 2: in the hot sun, keeping the safety of Israel and
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  Speaker 2: glory of God on the forefront of their minds. When
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  Speaker 2: the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king, all
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  Speaker 2: the tribes gathered together to mount an attack against him.
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  Speaker 2: When David learned of the incoming attack, he gathered his
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  Speaker 2: mighty men and went to meet them at the valley
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  Speaker 2: of Repharim. The men looked down at the sea of
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  Speaker 2: Philistines below. Thousands of Philistines had gathered. They came with
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  Speaker 2: steel and fire, ready to tear David and his men
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  Speaker 2: limb from limb. Before the battle, David met with the
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  Speaker 2: Lord again, as he once did before facing Goliath. He
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  Speaker 2: prayed with his knees driven into the gravel. Earnestly, he
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  Speaker 2: bowed before God and asked,' Do I have your favor
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  Speaker 2: to go up against them?' David's fists clenched as he
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  Speaker 2: awaited God's response. In the solitude the Lord spoke quietly,
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  Speaker 2: I have given them into your hand. So David arose
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  Speaker 2: and walked towards camp with intent. He gathered his men
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  Speaker 2: on top of the hill overlooking the valley. David raised
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  Speaker 2: his sword high in the air and roared towards the Philistines.
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  Speaker 2: Like a rushing wind, the men of Israel descended upon
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  Speaker 2: the Philistine soldiers and scattered on all ends of the valley.
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  Speaker 2: David broke into a group of Philistine soldiers and fought
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  Speaker 2: his way to the center of the battle. The soldiers
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  Speaker 2: surrounded David with intent to kill. David found himself absorbing
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  Speaker 2: the blows of dozens of Philistine soldiers. Growing tired from battle,
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  Speaker 2: David began to fall. Yet his mighty men broke into
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  Speaker 2: the group of Philistines and struck them down. The Philistines
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  Speaker 2: shattered under the fist of David and his mighty men.
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  Speaker 3: Our story begins with the new king of Israel, David,
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  Speaker 3: training alongside of his men. He had finally risen to
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  Speaker 3: the highest position in the land, king of all of Israel.
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  Speaker 3: But this was not the time to sit back and relax,
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  Speaker 3: or to become complacent, or just enjoy the spoils of war.
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  Speaker 3: He was to be ready, seeking God's will and strengthening
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  Speaker 3: his own body to defend and rescue the nation. David's
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  Speaker 3: courage and resolve came first from God, but also from
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  Speaker 3: the men who surrounded him, these mighty men of valor
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  Speaker 3: who joined to serve alongside of David and defend Israel.
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  Speaker 3: The book of Proverbs tells us that as iron sharpens iron,
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  Speaker 3: one man sharpens another. And that is precisely what these
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  Speaker 3: men did for one another and for David. Their example
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  Speaker 3: highlights the importance of being surrounded by those who seek
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  Speaker 3: God's grace and God's good, who are selfless and who
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  Speaker 3: seek the Lord. David's mighty men were a reflection of
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  Speaker 3: his leadership and his courage to fight for God's people.
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  Speaker 3: and these men were deeply committed to their king. On
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  Speaker 3: one occasion, David was hiding in the caves of Adullam,
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  Speaker 3: preparing to attack the Philistines who had taken Bethlehem. David
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  Speaker 3: lamented not being able to drink the water from the
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  Speaker 3: well of his own hometown. That night as he slept,
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  Speaker 3: three of his men snuck into Bethlehem to fill a
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  Speaker 3: jug of water for David. They were able to draw water,
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  Speaker 3: but were discovered and had to fight their way out
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  Speaker 3: of town, killing many Philistines in the process. When they
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  Speaker 3: returned to camp and presented the water to David, he
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  Speaker 3: was deeply moved, but he would not drink the water. Instead,
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  Speaker 3: he poured it out in sacrifice to the Lord, saying
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  Speaker 3: in 2 Samuel 23, verse 17, Far be it from me,
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  Speaker 3: O Lord, that I should do this. Shall I drink
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  Speaker 3: the blood of the men who went at the risk
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  Speaker 3: of their own lives? Therefore he would not drink it.
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  Speaker 3: These things the three mighty men did. We could look
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  Speaker 3: at this and be shocked or even offended that David
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  Speaker 3: seemingly wasted this precious gift that was brought to him
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  Speaker 3: by his men at great personal risk. But in reality,
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  Speaker 3: David was doing something far greater than quenching his thirst.
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  Speaker 3: He was demonstrating in a powerful way that he knew
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  Speaker 3: his men and their gift was a blessing from God.
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  Speaker 3: So he poured it out, not as a waste, but
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  Speaker 3: as a sacrifice, a praise of thanksgiving. David would demonstrate
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  Speaker 3: this kind of understanding many times in his life, that
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  Speaker 3: an offering that costs nothing is not worthy to give
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  Speaker 3: to his God. And when David was faced with opportunities
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  Speaker 3: for battle to fight against the enemy, his first step
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  Speaker 3: always was to seek the Lord. When the Philistines learned
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  Speaker 3: that he was the king, they prepared an attack against him.
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  Speaker 3: David went to the Lord and asked if he should
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  Speaker 3: engage and if God would give him the enemy into
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  Speaker 3: his hands. Rather than acting impulsively and impatiently, As Saul
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  Speaker 3: had done before him, David went to God, waited, listened, prayed,
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  Speaker 3: and then act accordingly. This was the kind of king
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  Speaker 3: that God wanted for his people. And as a result,
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  Speaker 3: the Lord gave David many victories. But the king knew
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  Speaker 3: that something was still not right. The Ark of the
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  Speaker 3: Covenant needed to be returned to its home in Israel.
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  Speaker 3: And we'll hear how David sets his mind to do
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  Speaker 3: that the next time. Dear God, we thank you for
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  Speaker 3: today's story of the mighty men of David and what
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  Speaker 3: it teaches us about the importance of being surrounded by
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  Speaker 3: people who share our heart, our courage, our vision. Help
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  Speaker 3: us to do likewise and help us always to seek
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  Speaker 3: your guidance in life's battles. May we seek you first
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  Speaker 3: in every fight. In Jesus' name, amen. Thank you for
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  Speaker 3: listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast. I'm Jack
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  Speaker 3: Graham from Dallas, Texas. And before we go, I want
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  Speaker 3: you to know that I would love to send you
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  Speaker 3: my daily devotional to give you fresh encouragement every single day.
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  Speaker 3: So visit JackGraham.org to sign up for your PowerPoint Today devotional.
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  Speaker 3: That's JackGraham.org.